-----
Elayne was utterly astonished when she entered Chalk’s room, discovering it to be dozens of tis larger than the mansion she had seen outside. "W-Wow, what’s this? It’s so huge..."
The space resembled a grand palace chamber, stretching for hundreds of ters with countless doors opening into long corridors lined with even more rooms.
Every room brimd with treasures Chalk had collected on her journeys: clothes, jewels, books, food, sweets, and countless other curiosities.
The ghost led Elayne to a vast terrace overlooking a glowing field of white and blue flowers. A pale blue sky arched overhead, and a gentle breeze stirred the air.
"W-What is this place? Am I on the surface? The living world?" Elayne gasped, her heart aching at the breathtaking beauty around her. "Mister ghost, please, where am I right now?"
"Hm? Every room in the mansion has been altered to rge with the consciousness and soul of its master," the ghost explained. "They beco far larger, personal domains. With sufficient power, one can shape these domains into any form or color desired."
"Domains...!" Elayne realized at once that she was not unique in creating them. Powerful White Ghosts, especially high nobles, could craft their own sanctuaries for true comfort. "Wow... I am truly stunned."
Yet sothing else stirred within her as she stepped onto the terrace, a faint sensation she had believed forever lost.
"...Ti?"
She sensed the subtle flow of ti, gentle but unmistakable. This domain was no ordinary space; ti moved faster here.
"It has achieved ti dilation? This is incredible...!"
On the terrace, Chalk sat sipping tea while absorbed in a book. Elayne smiled warmly and greeted her with proper respect.
"Good evening, Lady Chalk. I am here for whatever you need," Elayne said.
"Ah, you’re finally here!" Chalk nodded. "Very well, sit down. Ghosties, bring her sothing to eat. Though I don’t have any brains, sorry."
"Zombies don’t live on brains; that’s just a myth..." Elayne sighed softly. "Anything is fine, young lady."
"Hm, alright," Chalk replied. "So, do you enjoy reading?"
"Yes. Earlier, I was studying this cultivation thod book," Elayne said, offering it to her.
Chalk snatched the book and flipped through its pages in an instant. "Hm. Old and outdated teachings. It’s decent, but it lacks refinent," she declared.
"Really?" Elayne took the book back. "Even so, I intend to master it. I want to learn every cultivation thod I can to grow stronger..."
"Why?" Chalk asked bluntly.
"I need to protect the people precious to ," Elayne answered, her smile tender yet resolute. "And soday... I hope to return to the Realm of the Living."
Chalk stared at her, then burst into laughter. "Hahaha! Return to the Realm of the Living? That’s impossible once you’ve crossed over! You’d need to beco a Venerable God, venture into the Colorless Void, and sohow reach the Vast Cosmic Sea. Sothing none of us could ever achieve! Hahah!"
"A-Ah..." The mockery struck Elayne like a blade. She lowered her gaze, pain tightening her chest. "I... I just don’t want to surrender to despair. I’m sorry. I won’t ntion such foolish dreams again."
Chalk caught the deep sorrow in Elayne’s eyes and felt a pang of guilt. "Uh, wait... I didn’t an it that harshly. No one truly knows what the future holds. Um... don’t look so sad."
"I left my daughters in the living world," Elayne whispered, voice trembling. "Not a day passes that I don’t miss them... I only want to see them again."
"...Hm, fine," Chalk sighed, sipping her tea. "Give her so tea. Quickly!"
The ghosts swiftly served everything and hovered silently nearby. Elayne watched them, wondering if they found joy in their service.
"Where did you find these ghosts, Lady Chalk?" she asked gently.
"I created them," Chalk replied. "By shaping my own Phantasmal Energy. Did you think I enslaved random spirits? I would never allow such filthy things in my domain."
Elayne giggled, relief washing over her. "I see. Lady Chalk, you’re far kinder than your sharp words suggest."
"Hah?! Be quiet!" Chalk snapped, cheeks flushing. "Don’t say embarrassing things. Anyway, that thod is rubbish. Here, take this instead. Stop wasting ti on ancient garbage."
She tossed Elayne a pristine white book titled "White Ghost’s Secret Cultivation Arts: White Ghostly Mist Consciousness thod." Elayne’s eyes widened in shock.
"W-Wow! Isn’t this a closely guarded secret?" she gasped. "A technique from your family?"
"It’s hardly unique. Most White Ghosts learn from these arts, created directly by the White Mist Ghost Mother," Chalk explained. "This is an advanced version of the one you were studying."
"I see... Thank you so much," Elayne said, gratitude shining in her eyes.
"You can’t take it outside, though. You’ll read it here, with ," Chalk declared with a small smile. "Ti flows ten tis faster in my domain. I made it that way so I can read more without wasting external ti. Don’t worry, you won’t age quicker."
"How wonderful!" Elayne bead. "You truly love reading, Lady Chalk. Perhaps we’ll get along well. I could share fairy tales and stories from the Living World if you’d like—"
"Really?!" Chalk’s eyes lit up with sudden excitent. "You rember them? I’ve always wanted to hear those! Tell , tell now!"
"A-Ahahah, please calm down. Of course I will," Elayne promised, laughing softly.
One day outside equated to ten days within the domain. Though Elayne spent only twelve hours in real ti, she passed five full days with Chalk. They spoke endlessly of books, literature, fairy tales, and even tales from television, movies, comics, ani, and manga.
In that ti, Elayne studied the Phantasmal Soul Consciousness thod, practicing it before moving to Chalk’s gifted technique. She reached the Initial Stage. The core principle involved expanding consciousness, intent, and soul beyond the body.
For ghosts, this enlarged their forms. For others, it strengthened and refined their ghostly aura, granting greater control. Elayne followed three rigorous steps:
Sit cross-legged and gradually extend the soul outside the body, holding it there as long as possible.
Channel Nether and Ghostly Energy into the exposed soul; inside the body, it proved ineffective.
Endure the searing pain and throbbing headaches for a hundred cycles each session.
Practicing this alongside her other two thods, Elayne advanced to the Middle Stage in all three.
She had grown stronger once more.
Yet that was not the end. Chalk insisted she study the gifted book regardless, and as Elayne delved deeper, she discovered its true value: an extraordinary upgrade, concealing a hidden legacy within its pages.
A Legacy.
-----
User Comments
0 comments from readers